Monday, 21 December 2015

Special Weather Statement

City of Winnipeg

Issued at 15:30Monday 21 December 2015

Another round of snow moving in Tuesday.. A storm system over Washington state this afternoon is forecast to track east into North Dakota Tuesday spreading another round of accumulating snow over southern Manitoba. Snow is expected to start Tuesday afternoon near the US border and spread northeast across the Red River valley and southeast Manitoba through the afternoon into Tuesdayevening. Snow may be heavy at times which will produce poor travelling conditions through the evening rush hour before snow tapers off by Wednesday morning. At this point, it appears that general snowfall amounts of 5-10 cm are likely across the Red River valley and southeast Manitoba through Tuesdaynight with 10-15 cm possible in some areas, especially closer to the US and Ontario borders. There is still some uncertainty with the exact track and strength of this system which will influence final snowfall amounts. The public is advised to monitor future forecasts as warnings may be required as the track and strength of this system becomes clearer. Please continue to monitor alerts and forecasts issued by Environment Canada. To report severe weather, send an email to storm@ec.gc.ca or tweet reports to #MBStorm. Find out more ›

Friday, 18 December 2015

The
Declared Snow Route Parking Ban put into effect at midnight will continue
tonight which prohibits parking on any designated snow route between midnight
and 7:00 a.m.

In addition, plowing of residential streets
will begin Saturday evening to improve the overall condition of residential
streets. As a result, a Residential Parking Ban has been declared and will be
in effect starting Saturday, December 19 at 7:00 p.m.

Citizens are urged to confirm their snow zone
letter in order to determine when their residential street is scheduled for
clearing. You can find your
snow zone with our Address Lookup Toolat knowyourzone.winnipeg.caor by contacting 311 (available 24 hours a day, 7
days a week by phone at 311, or by email at 311@winnipeg.ca). Citizens are encouraged to find out their snow zone letter well
in advance of the start of the residential plow and to make alternate parking
arrangements if they park on the street.

Starting at 7:00 p.m. Saturday, December, 19,
residents of snow zones D, F, H, M, N, R and U will need to move their
vehicles as plowing will be underway in those zones until 7:00 a.m. Sunday.
Please refer to the entire schedule below for details about when snow zones
will be cleared this week.

Avoid a ticket and towResidents are urged to find an alternate place to park such as an
off-street driveway or parking lot, or a nearby street that is not currently
scheduled for plowing. This will help the plowing operation run smoothly and
will prevent you from being ticketed and towed.

Vehicles parked in violation of the Residential Parking Ban may be
towed to a nearby street that is not scheduled to be plowed, or has already
been cleared. If you believe your vehicle may have been towed due to the
Residential Parking Ban, please contact 311 for assistance in locating it.

Stay back, stay safeMore than 400 pieces of heavy equipment will be used for this snow
clearing operation so motorists are reminded to drive to road conditions and
to use extreme caution when driving near any snow clearing equipment or
sanding trucks.

Parking ban notificationThe City offers free email and Twitter notifications which advise
subscribers when a parking ban goes into effect. To sign up for
notifications, or for more information about all winter parking bans visit knowyourzone.winnipeg.caor
contact 311.

Background information: Residential
Parking BanA Residential Parking Ban is called to facilitate the City’s snow
clearing response to an extreme snowfall. All residential streets are
assigned a snow zone; each snow zone is identified by a letter of the
alphabet. Zones are plowed in 12-hour shifts, around-the-clock. Parking is
only prohibited on residential streets during the 12-hour period when a zone
is scheduled for clearing.

In 2011, City Council approved changes to improve Winnipeg’s
winter parking bans including the Residential Parking Ban. Plowing zones in
12-hour shifts decreases the amount of time motorists cannot park on a
particular street and also facilitates more efficient and effective snow
clearing.

Job Posting

Job Description

AVLIC Executive Director - Job Posting

The Association of Visual Language Interpreters of Canada is a non-profit, professional association for interpreters whose working languages include a sign language. AVLIC was established in 1979 and has several Affiliate Chapters (ACs) across the country. AVLIC is the only certifying body for ASL-English interpreters in Canada through the means of our Canadian Evaluation System. Among a variety of services, AVLIC also offers a Professional Compliance Review Process (formerly the Dispute Resolution Process) to maintain quality and accountability to the field of interpreting.

The AVLIC Board, representing the membership, is transforming from a working Board of Directors to a governance model and hiring an Executive Director is one aspect of the transition. This is a new position for AVLIC, and therefore it is expected that the Executive Director would assist the Board and the members in this transition, while being respectful to history, culture and values of the organization and the community it serves.

The Executive Director is responsible for the successful leadership and management of the association according to the strategic direction set by the AVLIC Board of Directors. The Executive Director will implement the vision and mandate of AVLIC. The Executive Director will provide leadership in identifying priorities and objectives, direct staff and contractors, support committees and ensure AVLIC’s financial and organizational viability.

This is a two-year contract position. Continuation on the position is based on successful resource development. Use of a home-based office is essential, located anywhere in Canada.

Responsibilities And Accountabilities:

Leadership

Actively participates in the development and assumes responsibility for the implementation of the overall strategic direction of AVLIC in accordance with the vision, mission, values, and strategic direction and goals set by the Board of Directors;

Drafts policies (for the approval by the Board) and prepares procedures to implement the organizational policies, reviews existing policies on an annual basis and recommends changes to the board as appropriate;

Acts as a professional advisor to the Board of Directors on all aspects of AVLIC activities, on issues and concerns internal to the Association, and on trends and emerging issues in the external environment;

Fosters team work among staff, contractors and volunteers and collaborates effectively between the staff and Board;

Conducts official correspondence on behalf of AVLIC as appropriate.

Financial and Risk Planning & Management

Ensures appropriate financial management of the Association’s budget, including following appropriate bookkeeping and accounting procedures;

Ensures appropriate reporting to the Board and funding bodies;

Works with the Board to prepare, manage and execute a comprehensive annual budget;

Oversees expenditures within the authority delegated by the Board;

Ensures compliance with government reporting requirements;

Ensures AVLIC’s files and records are appropriately safeguarded and managed;

Identifies and evaluates the risks to the Association’s people (clients, staff, contractors, management, and volunteers), property, finances, goodwill and image and implement measures to mitigate and control risks.

Establishes good working relationships and collaborative arrangements with community groups, funders, government agencies, educational institutions and others as required to help achieve the mission of AVLIC;

Promotes an enhanced profile for the Association and develops opportunities to market member services at community events.

Operations

Oversees the efficient and effective day-to-day operations of the Association using policies and procedures approved by the Board and membership;

Develops and implements operational plans which oversees the Association’s programs, projects and services;

Establishes a positive work environment;

Ensures that the operation of AVLIC meets the expectations of its members, Board and other stakeholders;

Snowfall Warning

City of Winnipeg

Issued at 10:53 Tuesday 15 December
2015

Colorado
Low to bring 10-20 cm of snow on Wednesday. A developing Colorado Low will
move northeastwards through the day today across the Central and Northern
Plains of the United States and push into Minnesota through the overnight
period. As this storm system approaches, it will spread snow into Southern Manitoba
overnight into Wednesday morning. Moderate to heavy snow will build into the
region between 6 and 9 AM, with significant accumulations nearing 10 cm
likely by noon. Snow will continue falling through the afternoon, but likely
be lighter than the morning. A further 4-8 cm are possible through the
afternoon. Light snow will continue overnight with lesser accumulations. Through
Wednesday evening, relatively brisk northwesterly winds will set up over the
province which will combine with the fresh snow to produce localized areas of
blowing snow which may cause abrupt visibility restrictions on area highways.
It's important to note that the heaviest snow will be falling along a narrow
band and will be sensitive to the exact track of the low pressure system.
While there is high confidence in the current snowfall forecast, Environment
Canada meteorologists will continuously track this developing system and
adjust the warning areas if required. Be prepared to adjust your driving with
changing road conditions. Prepare for quickly changing and deteriorating
travel conditions. Rapidly accumulating snow could make travel difficult over
some locations. Visibility may be suddenly reduced at times in heavy snow. Please
continue to monitor alerts and forecasts issued by Environment Canada. To
report severe weather, send an email to storm@ec.gc.ca
or tweet reports to #MBStorm. Find out more ›

Special Weather Statement

City of Winnipeg

Issued at 03:36 Tuesday 15 December
2015

Colorado
Low to bring snow and colder temperatures to Southern Manitoba. Environment
Canada meteorologists are tracking a developing Colorado Low that is set to
push through the Northern Plains of the United States. The development of
this system will be somewhat dysfunctional. The main disturbance is forecast
to track northeastward tonight, moving across Minnesota on Wednesday before
reaching Northwestern Ontario on Thursday. As a result, initially the main
swath of snow will lie east of Southern Manitoba. However a secondary area of
heavy snow is expected to develop along a trough of low pressure protruding northward
from this system. Snowfall associated with this feature will track into
Southern Manitoba overnight and continue on Wednesday. Because of the complex
development of this system numerical models have had some difficulty
determining the intensity and placement of the snowfall. At this time models
are suggesting that the heaviest snowfall will lie along a line extending
northeastward from Pilot Mound through Winnipeg towards Bissett. Preliminary
estimates suggest 10-15 cm of snow are possible along this axis by late Wednesday.
Locally heavier amounts may be possible particularly along the Manitoba
Escarpment. In the wake of this system brisk northwesterly winds will develop
resulting in drifting and some blowing snow by late Wednesday. Colder
temperatures will also enter the region with daytime highs remaining near
seasonal values for the latter portion of the week. For mid December average
daytime highs for Winnipeg and Brandon are near the -10 c. The public is
advised to monitor public forecasts for any warnings that may be issued in
advance of this system later today. Please continue to monitor alerts and
forecasts issued by Environment Canada. To report severe weather, send an
email to storm@ec.gc.ca or tweet reports
to #MBStorm. Find out more ›

Registration
deadline is Dec 21, 2015. Why January? Why so soon? Because Canada
Council for the Arts individual Deaf Artists grant ends Feb 29th, 2016. They
are not renewing this grant again.

This
is a great opportunity to learn to write a grant in Anita Small's workshop in
ASL in guided grant writing exercises.

This
is for you if you want to follow your dreams, eg: take a year off to paint,
write a story/poems, hire an illustrator/editor for your story, perform in
theatres across the country, film a movie, take courses with ASL interpreting
to further your arts career, etc.

The Winnipeg Police Service would like to remind citizens to be watchful of
potentially hazardous situations during the busy holiday season. Being
alert, focusing on personal safety and protecting your property can be
accomplished in a few minutes with little effort. The following are
a few home and personal safety strategies to consider.

Holidays and children

Talk with your child about how he or she can protect themselves should they get
lost in a mall while shopping. Teach your children to ask store clerks or mall
security for help if they become separated from you, rather than trying to find
you or your vehicle. Children should never be left unattended in vehicles.

Safe shopping

Be extra careful with purses and wallets. Carry a purse close to your body, not
dangling by the straps, and keep wallets in an inside pocket. Deter pickpockets
and purse‑snatchers by not overburdening yourself with packages. If you take
some parcels out to your vehicle, put them in the trunk or out of sight. After
storing these parcels, consider moving your vehicle before re-attending the
store.

When attending to an automated banking machine, be aware of who is in line
behind you and ensure your PIN number is protected from others’ view. Do not
count your money in plain view of others and keep your credit/debit cards
secure at all times. Retain all copies of your financial transactions and/or
ensure that they are disposed of in a secure manner. DO NOT provide personal or
financial information over the phone or computer if it is unsolicited and you
cannot verify the origin.

Stay alert

Be sure to always park in well-lit areas. When you return to your vehicle after
shopping or parties, have your keys ready. As you approach your car, be aware
of your surroundings – look around and into your vehicle before entering it.
Lock your doors as soon as you get into your vehicle.

Protect your purchases

Once you have your purchases back home, protect them by not displaying them or
their packaging to passers-by. Close your curtains at night so that people
can't see inside your home. This can also be an ideal time to update or create
a home inventory. Take photos or make videos of items and list their
descriptions including serial numbers. If your home is burglarized, these
records will make it easier for the police to identify and potentially return
your property to you.

Donate wisely

Criminals may try to take advantage of your generosity during the holidays by
going door‑to‑door, asking for donations. Always ask for proper identification
and find out how the funds will be used and consider phoning the charity to
check if they're canvassing in your area.

Contact police if
suspicious activity is observed in your neighbourhood. Additional safety
tips can be found on the Winnipeg Police Service website at www.winnipeg.ca/police

Monday, 30 November 2015

Public
Advisory- Increase In Thefts From Vehicles
Recently, East District members (District 4) have received an increase in
reports regarding thefts from vehicles parked in personal driveways.

One of the common things stolen is the garage door remote, which the suspects
then use to enter the garage and or residence and steal further items.

Regardless of where you reside in the city, please consider the following
break-in prevention tips:

1. Keep your car
visible
Avoid having your vehicle concealed by larger vehicles, fences or foliage;
thieves like to work in private.

2. Don’t make it easy
Keep windows closed and doors locked. Many thefts from vehicles are as a
result of unlocked vehicles.

3. Vehicle alarm?
Don’t forget to activate it.

4. Hide your valuables
Many smash-and-grab thieves act on impulse. So keep your stuff out of sight –
either with you or in a locked trunk. Don’t count on the glove box; thieves
know to look there, and they’re easy to break into.

103rd
Grey Cup Wrap Up
Grey Cup week in Winnipeg ended last evening in an exciting game, with the
Edmonton Eskimos earning their 14th Grey Cup in a 26-20 victory
over the Ottawa Redblacks.

Countless events were held across the city over the past week and those who
attended enjoyed them in a safe and responsible manner.

The Winnipeg Police Service would like to thank all the fans, from here and
across the country, along with our partners in the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic
Service, for making this Grey Cup week the success it was.

Great job Winnipeg and
best wishes for Toronto who will host the Grey Cup in 2016!

Friday, 27 November 2015

Annual Snow Route Parking Ban begins Tuesday, December 1, 2015

Parking
will be prohibited on Snow Routes between 2:00 a.m. and 7:00 a.m.

The City's Annual Snow Route
Parking Ban will take effect at 2:00 a.m. on Tuesday, December 1, 2015.
Vehicles may not park on designated snow routes between 2:00 a.m. and 7:00
a.m.

The Annual Snow Route Parking Ban is in effect from December 1 to March 1.

Avoid a
ticket and tow

Vehicles parked in violation of the Annual Snow Route Parking Ban will
receive a $100 ticket ($50 if paid early), and may be towed to the towing
company’s compound.

Citizens are encouraged to check their streets for Snow Route signs, or if
unsure, to contact 311 or use the online Address Lookup Tool.

Snow routes are a top priority for snow clearing to ensure that emergency
vehicles can navigate quickly and safely around the city. It’s important that
vehicles are not parked on snow routes overnight in order to enable rapid and
efficient snow clearing of these critical routes.

CAV continues to make solid progress in our work to build Canada’s new
Video Relay Service.

In September, we told you that we have a two-step procurement process in
place to:

acquire the technology
platform that will power our VRS system, and

select the video
interpreter providers who will provide call centre interpreting
services in ASL and LSQ.

This
procurement work is advancing well, and we anticipate that we will have
additional news to share with you in the coming weeks.
While building the VRS service is our number 1 priority, CAV is also
working hard to become more acquainted with Canada’s vibrant Deaf and
Hard of Hearing communities and to get their ideas about VRS.

On October 24, Lisa
Anderson-Kellett, one of CAV’s Board Directors, gave an update on
our progress to the Greater Vancouver Association of the Deaf.

On November 14, CAV’s
Executive Director Sue Decker was pleased to meet with the Ontario
Association of the Deaf and the Toronto Association of the Deaf at
their annual general meetings.

At both
meetings, people responded enthusiastically about the VRS coming to
Canada. As we move into 2016, our goal is to meet more people
face-to-face for discussions about the opportunities that VRS will bring
to our lives. We are making history together – it is an exciting time!
We will also be making history this month when CAV launches its new
website. This will be a place you can go to get news and information
about the implementation of VRS. You will also be able to sign up for
regular email updates.
We will be in touch again with another update in early December.
Thank you and best wishes.